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Saturday, August 18, 2007

How To Lure Substitute Teachers...

Excerpts:...Richmond Heights School District near St. Louis, where subs get a free movie pass after 15 days of work, a $20 book store gift certificate after 20 days and a $100 bonus after 50 days. That's on top of a daily rate of $80 to $147, depending on experience.

...So, what do most substitutes want? Respect from teachers and principals and the sense they're appreciated, Smith said.

...Marcus Wolfe, 34, of Gurnee, Ill., has been a substitute teacher in six northern Illinois districts and worked about 165 of the school year's 180 days last year. He said the best incentive is a sub-friendly environment, including substitute handbooks, an expectation that teachers will provide lesson plans for subs and frequent interaction with administration and other faculty.

...Subs go through orientation, with lectures on successful classroom management, lesson plans and discipline, a "substitute appreciation week" and a competition for "guest teacher of the year."

..."I had one lady write to me she's been substituting for 15 years, and she said, 'This is the first time any official has thanked me for doing it,"' said program specialist Michael Ballard.

...Still, most principals don't have the resources to do too much hand-holding with subs, Erbach said. "It's unfortunate that we aren't able to do it on a more frequent basis. Day-to-day operations often supersede everything else," Erbach said.----------------------------------------------

4 comments:

It's a supply and demand thing, though. Once they find enough subs, they go back to treating you the way they always did. Hopefully, thye won't, and they'll have to sweeten the pot with free donuts and prostitutes.